Interested by shopping for a type of kegerators on the market you noticed on-line? Let’s overview just a few issues earlier than you click on “add to cart.”
The rise of craft beers and the homebrewing trade over the previous 20 years has made the kegerator a staple of man caves, yard patios, and even kitchens in properties throughout America. It’s one of the best ways to take pleasure in draft beer from the consolation of your own home (or for those who’re fortunate sufficient to work at a spot like KegWorks, your workplace). Extra not too long ago, different drinks have joined the on faucet development, making kegerators well-liked with extra than simply dads and guys with beards.
If you’re wanting so as to add a kegerator to your residing house, then learn on, and we’ll assist information you thru among the selections you’ll have to make.
What’s a kegerator?
A kegerator is a fridge designed to retailer and dispense kegs of beer or different drinks. It’s usually outfitted with beer (or beverage) and air strains, an air (CO2 or Nitrogen beer gasoline) tank, a regulator, a draft beer tower, and a faucet. The beer keg is stored at a constant temperature and carbonation stage, permitting for an ideal pour each time. They can be utilized for both dwelling or industrial use.
How does a kegerator work?
Kegerator Elements
- Faucet Deal with – The lever is pulled to open and shut the tap and management the beer move. A good way to customise your kegerator, the faucet deal with may be modified out to match your character or favourite form of beer.
- Faucet – Usually made from chrome steel or chrome-plated brass, the draft faucet is the place the beer is allotted from the kegerator. It’s hooked up to the draft tower.
- Draft Tower – The beer line travels from contained in the kegerator cupboard into the draft tower, the place it connects to the draft faucet. Beer towers can be found in varied kinds and might maintain a number of taps.
- Guard Rail – Related to the highest of the kegerator cupboard, the guard rail prevents glassware saved on prime of the kegerator from falling.
- Drip Tray – An space the glass sits on whereas being crammed. Collects any spilled beer or drips from the tap
- Draft Regulator – Regulators join the CO2 or Nitrogen tank to the air line, and keep and alter the stress stage despatched to the keg. Double gauge regulators (pictured) have a second gauge to watch how a lot gasoline stays within the tank.
- Air Line – The vinyl air or gasoline line carries CO2 or Nitrogen beer gasoline from the tank to the keg coupler.
- Air Tank – Incorporates the gasoline used to dispense your beer. Both a CO2 tank or a nitrogen gasoline tank.
- Air Tank Holder – Holds the tank upright to forestall the tank from being broken.
- Beer Line – Vinyl tubing transports the beer from the keg and coupler to the tap.
- Keg Coupler – Connects the beer and air strains to the keg. Tapping a keg means connecting the coupler to the keg valve. Not each keg will likely be suitable with the usual coupler that comes with most kegerators. Learn our Keg Coupler Checklist to see which sort of coupler matches the type of beer you wish to pour.
The keg connects to the kegerator through a coupler (#11). An air line (#7) hooked up to the coupler pushes gasoline from the air tank (#8) into the keg, which pulls beer from it. The beer travels out of the keg via the coupler into beer strains (#10), which travels up right into a draft tower (#3) and connects to the tap (#2), the place the beer is allotted.
What number of kegs slot in a kegerator?
Residential kegerators are usually designed to carry a half keg or 2 to three corny or sixtel kegs at a time, relying on the scale of the refrigeration unit. Business kegerators differ broadly in measurement and capability however usually maintain 1-5 half kegs and as much as 12 corny or sixtels. Study extra about beer keg sizes and dimensions with our information.
How lengthy does a keg final in a kegerator?
Many elements decide how lengthy a keg of beer will keep contemporary. At a minimal, a keg will final about 6-8 weeks from the day it was crammed so long as it’s chilled correctly. For extra particulars, take a look at our information on how lengthy a keg will keep contemporary.
Why purchase a kegerator?
Value financial savings
One of many long-term advantages of proudly owning a kegerator is the cash you’ll finally save. Shopping for a keg of beer is like shopping for nearly some other merchandise bulk, the associated fee per ounce or pint is much less with a keg than shopping for a 6 or 12-pack. In the end, you find yourself paying for the kegerator with the cash you saved from not shopping for packaged beer. We even saved you the difficulty and did the maths so that you can present how a kegerator pays for itself.
No empties
With out shopping for cans and bottles of beer, you received’t should return empties to the shop or accumulate them for recycling. Your days of getting a bag or field stuffed with empty, sticky beer cans are over!
No leaving dwelling for draft beer
The perfect a part of proudly owning a kegerator is with the ability to expertise the enjoyment of ingesting a freshly poured pint of draft beer at dwelling. No extra driving to the bar down the road or paying for a cab or trip share to the native brewpub. Simply you and your pals hanging out round your kegerator, having an excellent time.
Recent beer on demand
Whether or not you’re a craft beer geek, a homebrewing fanatic, otherwise you similar to to drink an American mild lager, you may take pleasure in them at dwelling with simply the pull of a faucet deal with. When correctly chilled inside a kegerator, a keg will keep contemporary for as much as three months, so there’s no rush both.
What sorts of Kegerators are there?
When shopping for a kegerator, you’ll wish to establish the place you’ll use it. Is it going to be put in someplace completely, or do it’s essential transfer it round? Will your kegerator be used inside or exterior the place it might be uncovered to rain or excessive temperatures? Relying on the solutions to these questions, there are completely different kegerators to select from. Obtain our Kegerator Comparability Chart for an in depth breakdown of the specs of each unit.
Freestanding Kegerators
These are essentially the most reasonably priced and typical type of kegerator accessible. Freestanding kegerators are good for pouring beers in your basement, rec room, den, storage, and indoors. Most models include casters on the underside to allow them to be moved simply.
The one factor to recollect with freestanding models is to depart sufficient room for correct air flow. Heat air from the compressor is vented from the again of the unit. You wish to go away a gap of two to three inches behind the kegerator so the air can escape. A kegerator that doesn’t have correct air flow won’t final very lengthy. A majority of these models shouldn’t be put in for countertop use.
Below Counter Kegerators
If you’re including a kegerator to your kitchen or dwelling bar, a built-in kegerator is the best way to go. Below counter kegerators have air flow popping out the entrance of the unit, in order that they received’t overheat if the again facet is roofed or in opposition to a wall. The draft tower may be constructed into your countertop for an expert and seamless look.
Out of doors Kegerators
Serving draft beer in your yard patio or pool deck requires a kegerator designed to face up to the weather. Out of doors kegerators have a rugged, chrome steel exterior to forestall rusting and a sealed again to guard {the electrical} elements inside.
A number of Faucet Kegerators
Ideally suited for the craft beer fan or homebrew fanatic that likes to have a number of beer kinds on faucet, a number of faucet models characteristic two or extra taps. A number of faucet kegerators can maintain wherever from 2-4 ⅙ barrels (sixtels) or Corny homebrew kegs, relying on the make and mannequin of the unit.
Business Kegerators
Because the identify signifies, these kegerators are designed to be used in bars and eating places and are also referred to as a direct draw models. Business kegerators have ample room to carry a number of ½ barrel kegs (full-size kegs) and additional room for added chilly storage of things. They’re made out of sturdy, commercial-grade supplies that may stand up to the wear and tear and tear of fixed use.
Do kegerators include CO2?
Some kegerators do include an empty CO2 tank relying on the mannequin. Be sure you analysis if the one you need comes with or with out a tank. The tank will likely be empty when it arrives as a result of delivery them stuffed with gasoline is unsafe. A fast web search ought to level you towards a spot in your space that fills tanks.
Have extra questions on CO2 and draft beer? Now we have a listing of FAQs about CO2 that can assist you out.
Can I construct my very own Kegerator?
Have an outdated fridge in your storage or basement? Did your son or daughter carry their dorm room fridge again dwelling after commencement? Seize your self a kegerator conversion equipment, and get to work. A DIY kegerator is an reasonably priced approach to have a draft beer faucet in your house, particularly if you’re helpful and have the suitable instruments readily available. Simply be sure that your fridge is sufficiently big to carry a keg.
You will discover each door-mounted and tower kegerator conversion kits relying on the type of the fridge.
What’s a keezer?
A keezer makes use of a chest freezer as a substitute of a fridge to retailer, chill, and pour draft beer kegs. This is a wonderful possibility if you wish to have greater than only one or two kegs on faucet concurrently. Try our information on how one can construct the last word keezer for extra info.
Kegerator Shopping for Suggestions
Earlier than deciding on a kegerator, you should guarantee you’ve got correct house for it. Bear in mind, this factor wants to carry a keg of beer. Most dwelling kegerators are 3 to 4 ½ toes tall and a pair of to 2 ½ toes huge and deep. Don’t overlook to contemplate the room above for the draft tower and the room behind for the air flow of freestanding models.
You’ll want to analysis to seek out out what measurement kegs of your favourite beers can be found in your space. Some craft breweries solely supply their beers in ⅙ barrels (sixtels). You may match two sixtels in most single and multiple-tap kegerators. This fashion, you may preserve a backup keg readily available for events. Study extra in regards to the various kinds of kegs with our information to beer keg sizes.
The opposite factor to recollect with kegs is what sort of coupler they want to connect with your kegerator. Most home beer kegs are suitable with the D-System Sankey coupler that comes commonplace with most kegerators. Imports and a few craft beers require a unique type coupler. Try our keg coupler information to see what sort of coupler you want.
Need to have Guinness on faucet at dwelling? A Guinness kegerator requires a nitrogen regulator, stout faucet and a U-System coupler. You may get a Guinness kegerator conversion equipment to simply swap your kegerator over.
And, as soon as once more, REMEMBER THIS THING HOLDS A KEG OF BEER. You’ll have to carry that keg to wherever your kegerator is. Need a kegerator in your basement? That’s nice, simply know you’ll should lug a keg down your basement stairs. You might wish to get a keg cart or dolly to help you in transportation.
What else do I would like with my kegerator?
Relying on the kegerator you purchase, it’s possible you’ll want to select up just a few vital elements and kegerator equipment earlier than you may faucet that keg. Be sure to have the next:
Kegerator Elements
Kegerator Equipment
How do I clear my kegerator?
A kegerator requires little or no upkeep, however similar to some other equipment in your house, you’ll want to preserve it clear. This dispenses one thing you’re going to drink, in any case, and micro organism can develop on any floor beer comes into contact with. Use conventional cleansing brokers to maintain the inside and outside of the fridge unit clear. You need to clear your beer strains each time you alter your keg. Utilizing a beer line cleansing equipment is the simplest manner to do that. This retains micro organism from rising contained in the strains and helps stop sediment from increase that may trigger foam. Common upkeep, comparable to changing beer strains and washers, is widespread.
What else can I serve with a kegerator?
Moreover beer, you may serve a number of different sorts of drinks with a kegerator, together with wine on faucet, espresso, batched cocktails, and kombucha. Be sure you have the proper tools earlier than you give it a attempt. A very powerful a part of utilizing a kegerator to dispense the drinks talked about above is that you’ll want to make use of barrier line as a substitute of vinyl hose to forestall staining and taste contamination and to make use of all chrome steel contacts, together with the tap, shank, connectors, and coupler. Every form of beverage requires a particular gasoline sort (nitrogen or CO2), stress setting, and contours.
Shopping for a kegerator could seem onerous, however when you sip that first pint, you may understand it was well worth the funding. Then your greatest drawback will likely be your thirsty family and friends wanting to return over for some.